Thousands of people can be seen waving their flags despite heavy rain and stood on the streets for a last glimpse of Lee as his coffin was carried by gun carriage on a 15-km procession passing the streets of the country he helped build to his state funeral.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, India’s Narendra Modi, Indonesia’s Joko Widodo and former U.S. President Bill Clinton were present with Lee’s family and Singapore politicians during the ceremony which was attended by 2,200 people.

Yew was acknowledged as the founder of modern Singapore and transforming it from a small, colonial British trading port into one of the world’s wealthiest nations.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lee’s son, fought his tears as he gave a 40-minute eulogy in English, Malay, and Chinese.

Lee’s body was cremated in a private ceremony for his family later yesterday, Sunday.